Self-retaining rectal tube.



c. w. MEINECKE. SELF RETAINING RECTM. TUBE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. I9l5.

1 1 98,742. Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN W. MEINEGKE, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO MEINECKE & COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SELF-RETAINING RECTAL TUBE.

Application filed November 18, 1915.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN W. MEI- NECKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-RetainingRectal Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to rectal tubes; such tubes are usually made of soft rubber or the like, and adapted to be connected with a fountain syringe or other suitable receptacle and inserted into the rectum for injections of varied character such as are used in hospitals'and sick rooms.

More particularly my invention relates to such tubes when used in the manner specified for administering saline solutions according to the drip or drop by drop method. In the practice of this method it is often necessary to continue the injection for hours at a time.

Tubes of the character specified have hitherto been made of soft rubber of substantially uniform diameter and difficulty has been experienced in keeping the tube in position for any length of time; to make this possible, it has been common to attach strips of adhesive plaster to the tube and to the buttocks, but this has been a troublesome procedure for the nurse, as well as annoying to the patient and particularly so when, as often happens, it has been necessary to withdraw and reinsert the tube from time to time.

My invention herein disclosed provides a simple and durable rectal tube which embodies all of the advantages of rectal tubes hitherto known and, furthermore, is so made that when inserted it is naturally and securely held in position, without discomfort, by reason of its form and the action of the rectal muscles thereupon; it may be instantly and easily withdrawn or placed in position.

The invention consists, essentially, in inserting into the length of the integral sof rubber tube ordinarily used as a rectal tube, at a. suitable distance from its end, a tubular plug or connector having a. bulbous end. This is easily done by simply cutting the soft rubber tube and slipping the divided ends over suitable nipples formed on the two ends of the plug.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Serial No. 62,110.

My invention will be better understood by referring to the drawings, in which Figure 1 represents, in perspective, a preferred form of rectal tube of my invent on; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section on an enlarged scale through Fig. 1, part being broken away; and Fig. 3 represents an elevation of the connecting plug, the parts of the soft rubber tube being dotted, on the same scale as Fig. 2.

In the drawings, (Figs. 1 and 2) 1 and 2 are the two pieces into which a soft rubber rectal tube of usual type has been divided, the piece 1, or tip, being for insertion into the rectum and having discharge openings 3 through which the saline solution passes, and the longer piece 2, or supply tube, being for connection, directly or indirectly, to a fountain syringe or other suitable receptacle; preferably the part 1 should be about 3 inches long.

Joining the parts 1 and 2 is a tubular plug 1, of hard rubber or the like, the central stem of which a has a uniform section of diameter substantially that of the part 1. Each end of this plug is formed as a pear shaped bulb 5, 6, the bases of the two bulbs facing one another. The extreme outer end of each bulb is formed as an annularly ribbed nipple over which the corresponding end of the part 1 or 2 is slipped and by means of which it is held. The length of plug 4, between the ends of the parts 1 and 2, should be, preferably, not greater than that of the piece 1.

In use, part 1 of the tube is inserted into the rectum in the usual manner and the insertion continued to and past the bulb 5 and to about the middle of the central stem 1, in the case of an adult. This will give a total length of insertion of about 4!,- inches which length experience has shown to be a preferable one. In thus inserting the tube, the bulb 5, owing to its taper, will'readily pass into the rectum; when entered, the sphincter muscle will close over stem 1 and the blunt base of the bulb will prevent the plug from slipping back or being expelled by gas from the intestines. It may, however, be easily withdrawn when desired.

lVhile the plug 4 need, for its secure retention in situ, only have a bulb at the end entering the rectum I prefer to make the plug with a bulb at each end, one bulb, 5,

being the larger and suitable for adult use, While the other bulb, 6, is smaller and hence, suitable for children. The parts may be easily disconnected so as to have either the larger or the smaller bulb at the rectal end of the tube. This use of a bulb at the end of the plug remote from the tip prevents the tip and plug slipping too far into the rectum and hence maintains the discharge opening or openings of the tip at the point chosen by the physician or nurse as the best point.

The plug at is, preferably, of hard rubber but may be of soft rubber or of other suitable material.

The part 1 may be given any other desired length, or, several parts 1 of different lengths may be kept on hand and any selected length be used at will.

The shape of the bulb is not essentially important and may be varied.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A self retaining rectal tube comprising a supply tube, a tip provided with a discharge opening and a tubular plug the two ends of which are respectively connected to tip and supply tube said plug having a pair of bulb shaped expansions between its two ends and separated by a length of cross sec tion less than that of either expansion as and for the purpose described.

2. A self retaining rectal tube comprising a supply tube, a tip provided with a discharge opening and a tubular plug the two ends of which are respectively connected to tip and supply tube said plug having a pear shaped expansion between its two ends but adjacent the end connected with the tip the base of the pear being remote from the tip, as and for the purpose described.

A self retaining rectal tube comprising a supply tube, a tip provided with a dis charge opening and a rigid tubular plug the two ends of which are respectively connected to tip and supply tube said plug having a pear shaped expansion between its two ends but adjacent the end connected with the tip the base of the pear being remote from the tip, as and for the purpose described.

4. A tubular plug for a self retaining rectal tube said plug having a nipple at each end, a bulb shaped expansion adjacent each of said nipples and a length of uniform diameter between said expansions.

5. A tubular plug for'a self retaining rectal tube said plug having a nipple at each end, and a pair of bulb shaped expansions adjacent respectively to each of said nipples, the tube between said expansions being everywhere of cross section less than that of either expansion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto se my hand.

CHRISTIAN W. MEINEGKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

